Obama calls U.S.-Taliban talks agreement 'important first step' - latimes

KABUL, Afghanistan — For more than a decade, the U.S. and the Taliban have met almost exclusively on the battlefield of America's longest war. In coming days, both sides said, they will sit down at a negotiating table to discuss ending the bloodshed in Afghanistan. - Obama calls U.S.-Taliban talks agreement 'important first step'
Obama welcomes Taliban assent to Afghanistan talks